PROCEEDINGS OP THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATIOK. 637 



main question which we will have to consider will be one of 

 economy. I will consider the one that I will speak of as a one 

 horse power. I will begin with the steam engine. I suppose a 

 steam engine of one horse power, to cost from $300 upwards, to 

 run at a cost for fuel of ten pounds of coal per hour, or 25 cents 

 a day ; the wear and tear of such an engine will be about seven 

 cents a day. This engine, though small, will require an intelli- 

 gent man to attend to it. Such a man will require to be paid 

 $1.50 per day, and the engine occupying about one-sixth of 

 his time, the cost for attendance Avill be 25 cents per day, making 

 a total cost per day of 5*7 cents for fuel, wear and tear, and at- 

 tendance. This is seemingly a nominal sum for a one horse 

 power, but I think it can be done for that. The principal ques- 

 tion is capital, as it will take $300 or $400 to put one up. The 

 nett cost of a one horse power air engine will be $600, twice 

 that of a steam engine. The fuel consumed by an air engine 

 will be ten pounds of coal per hour, or 25 cents a day ; interest 

 and wear and tear, 12 cents a day; the attendance required will 

 be less than a steam engine requires, say one-twentieth part of a 

 man's time, or less than that, bringing the cost of attendance to 

 about 7^ cents per day, making a total cost of about 44 cents. 

 An air engine can be worked by a man of less capacity than a 

 Bteam engine requires. The only point on which an air engine 

 has been attacked, is its liability to wear out from overheating. 

 For agricultural purposes, the horse power is more generally 

 used. The cost of horse poAver is less than is generally 'be- 

 lieved. The only reason the generality of farmers have not 

 horse power with a system of gearing, is. the first cost. The 

 cost of setting up a one horse power is about $150, and that is 

 a large sum for some of our farmers to invest in machinery. 



Mr. Haskell. — What horse power do you consider the best ? 



Mr. Dibben. — The best one horse power that I know of is one 

 which I saw exhibited some years ago at an agricultural show. 

 It was composed of three pair of wheels on a frame principally 

 of iron. I think it was called Child's one horse power. The 

 cost of board for a respectable horse, is about $20 a month. A 

 farmer can keep a horse for 20 cents a day. Some horses have 

 been worked by the use of a bell, stopping and going on as the 

 bell was rung for them to do so. I think the cost of the horse 

 and horse power would not exceed $300 to a farmer; the wear 

 and tear would be about five cents a day, and the whole cost per 



